A prolific Sunderland burglar with more than 100 convictions has been jailed after two brothers caught him climbing out of their bedroom window with a bag of stolen possessions.

Serial raider Merrick Ainslie was trying to escape from the ground-floor flat in South Shields when one of the brothers spotted him and grabbed his legs.

The 43-year-old, of Saint Leonard Street, Sunderland, was hauled back inside and pinned to a bed until police arrived – despite trying to offer the brothers money to let him go because he did not want to return to prison.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Ainslie, who has 107 previous convictions, admitted burglary and was jailed for 40 months, with a further 10 weeks added after an earlier suspended sentence was activated.

Merrick Ainslie is starting a lengthy prison term after being convicted of burglary.

placeholder image — Merrick Ainslie is starting a lengthy prison term after being convicted of burglary.

Judge Sarah Mallett said Ainslie had a “truly appalling record” for house burglary.

Prosecutor Omar Ahmad told the court both brothers had been at home at around 11.15pm when one went into his bedroom to take a Facetime call.

Mr Ahmad said: “He saw the defendant attempting to exit this bedroom, climbing out of the window, with a plastic bag filled with possessions.

“The complainant reacted by grabbing the defendant's legs while shouting for his brother to assist.

“His brother arrived and assisted in trying to pull him back into the room.

“Both noticed another male stood outside the window and saw the defendant pass the bag to this male, while saying 'pass the knife to me'.

“The male did not produce a knife but began to tell the complainants he was a police officer, and would take the defendant to the police station, but then ran away.

“The complainants were able to pull the defendant from the window, detained him in the address and pinned him to the bed until the police arrived.

“During this time he was attempting to negotiate, offering them money to let him go as he didn't want to go back to jail.”

In an impact statement, one of the victims said what happened was "infuriating", after he worked hard to buy his own possessions.

He added he now felt anxious someone else could target his home at any time.

Annalisa Moscardini, representing Ainslie, said he had been drinking as it was the anniversary of his dad's death, and added: “He's a drug user, he doesn't often drink.”

She said he had been living homeless in South Shields and had little recollection of what happened, or who the other man was, but was “deeply ashamed”.